Indecent exposure is a serious sexual offence. It’s often called ‘flashing’, but you may also have heard it called exposure or sexual exposure.
It’s when a perpetrator shows (exposes) their genitals to a person to cause them to feel upset, scared or alarmed. It can be a shocking and violating experience and can have a long-lasting impact on victims.
Indecent exposure can also happen online, which is often called cyberflashing.
Indecent exposure is often downplayed or dismissed as a joke. But exposure isn’t funny – it’s a form of sexual violence. It should not be seen as a trivial offence or a harmless prank.
Why is it called flashing?
A perpetrator may very quickly show – or flash – their genitals towards someone before covering themselves or running off. However, some perpetrators may take longer in the act of showing their genitals, exposing themselves for longer and/or masturbating too to cause distress.
Indecent exposure can happen anywhere, and at any time of the day or night.
Cyberflashing
Exposure can also happen online. This is called cyberflashing.
It’s when a perpetrator sends an unwanted image or video of their genitals (or someone else’s genitals) to a victim. You may have heard this called a ‘dick pic’.
They may do this by email, text message or WhatsApp, on social media, a dating app or website, or during a live video call. Perpetrators may also use an app or feature on their device such as AirDrop or Bluetooth to send someone – including strangers – an unwanted image or video.
Anyone can experience indecent exposure, but research suggests that women and girls are much more likely to be affected by it than men.
More than 1 in 8 women in England and Wales have experienced indecent exposure since the age of 16 (source: Rape Crisis website). While 76% of girls aged 12-18 in England had been sent nude images of boys or men without their consent (source: Survivors’ Network website).
Indecent exposure can happen anywhere. Perpetrators may be someone you know or a stranger.
Experiencing indecent exposure, whether online or in person, can feel frightening, intimidating and upsetting. You may feel many different emotions after what you’ve experienced.
This type of crime can have a long-lasting effect. You may feel scared, unsafe, vulnerable or isolated after what you’ve been through. You may be angry, humiliated, embarrassed, or feel a sense of numbness about what you’ve experienced.
You may feel none of these emotions, and that’s OK too. Whatever you’re feeling is a valid response.
You may feel you have to make changes to your behaviour, routine and/or avoid the public space where the incident took place. Experiencing exposure can affect your confidence and can limit your freedom.
If you’ve been a victim of crime, you’ll need to decide whether or not to tell the police. If you’re unsure, we have more information about reporting a crime and what happens afterwards.
Remember, we can support you whether you decide to involve the police or not.
If you choose to report indecent exposure to the police, you should be listened to and respected. Police should take all reports of exposure seriously.
You can report in several ways:
- If it’s an emergency, call 999 and ask for the police.
- If it’s not an emergency, you can report sexual exposure to the police by calling 101. You can also report the crime online or at a local police station.
- You can also report non-emergency crime to the British Transport Police if you’ve experienced indecent exposure while travelling by train. Text 61016 or call 0800 40 50 40.
- If you want to report the crime anonymously you can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or report online.
Victim Support offers free, confidential support to all victim-survivors who have been subjected to any form of sexual violence at any point in their lives.
Our services are delivered independently of the police: you don’t have to report to the police to receive our support.
Support is tailored to your needs. This may include advocating (speaking on your behalf) with other services, safety planning without blame, or connecting you to other relevant support services.
We can also explain your rights and entitlements under the Victims’ Code and give you information to help you understand the criminal justice system.
Find out more about how we can support victim-survivors of sexual violence.
When you report a crime to the police, they should automatically ask if you’d like help from an organisation like Victim Support. But anyone affected by crime can contact us directly – you don’t need to talk to the police to get our help.
You can get in touch by:
- contacting your local Victim Support team
- calling our free Supportline on 08 08 16 89 111
- using our free 24/7 live chat service
- requesting support via our online form.
You can also create a free account on My Support Space – an online resource with interactive guides to help you manage the impact crime has had on you.
If English is not your first language and you’d like support, call our Supportline and let us know which language you speak. We’ll call you back with an interpreter as soon as possible. We also welcome calls via Relay UK and SignLive (BSL).
Families and friends affected by crime can also contact us for support and information. If you’re a child or young person under 18 and are looking for support, visit our children and young people website for information.
Further support and information:
- Victim Support: sexual violence services – find out how we can help you after your experience.
- Victim Support: support for children and young people – information for young people who have been affected by crime.
- My Support Space – Victim Support’s online resource with interactive guides to help you cope after experiencing crime, including a guide on indecent exposure.
- Rape Crisis: understanding your mind and body’s response – information on how you may react to experiencing sexual violence.
- The Cyber Helpline – free, expert help for victims of online harm.
- The Survivors Trust – supporting survivors of sexual violence.
- The Mix – support if you’re aged under 25.